That’s my birthday present,” Sasha’s Pals founder Tracy Miller says while talking about the new artificial turf around her foster dog cottage — a 12-by-12-foot air-conditioned structure for any dog that needs to be isolated due to health conditions.
The installation is just one example of how the Southlake mom goes above and beyond for animals.
“I guess you can say we are animal lovers,” Tracy says. “It’s always been my passion. Every year, I would go to the pound and pick up a dog. My daughter [Macy] finally said, ‘Mom, you should really start fostering.’’’
It started with Luna, a mama dog in an Arlington shelter. The great pyrenees mix wasn’t showing well in a shelter environment and was constantly looking for her babies. So Tracy brought her home and helped her become more comfortable.
“It was a challenge, but I got the hang of it,” Tracy says.
After finding Luna a great home, Tracy took on her next fostering challenge, a set of puppies who had mange. After nursing them back to health and finding each a home, Tracy was hooked.
“I’m one of those people who doesn’t do anything halfway,” Tracy says. “I go about it with gusto.”
That spirit translated into fostering 70 dogs and cats in 2019. In 2020, Tracy fostered 170 animals. As of April 2021, Tracy has fostered 85 animals. By partnering with trusted rescues, like Animal Advocates of North Texas in Keller, Tracy finds animals she knows she can help by elevating their environment. Tracy is selective to ensure the safety of her family’s seven dogs, but she knows the value her home provides.
“It kind of teaches them not to be scared of other dogs,” Tracy says. “My dogs have taught them that not all dogs are mean.”
While some dogs are only in the Miller home for a few days, other dogs take a little longer to warm up. But over time, Tracy learns more about each individual animal to ensure she finds a family that will meet its needs.
“She’s a voice for these animals,” Macy says.
Macy helped Tracy set up a Facebook page, Sasha’s Pals, to help potential adopters learn more about the available animals.
“It’s my way of being able to network the dogs,” Tracy says.
The name was inspired by Tracy’s family friend Libba, who was like a grandmother to her. After Libba moved into assisted living, she became depressed. So Tracy went to the pound and found her a canine companion named Sasha.
“She lived for Sasha,” Tracy says. “It literally extended her lifetime. It shows what a blessing dogs can be.”
She hopes her fosters bring the same value to their forever homes.
“One of my adopters asked me one day, ‘Do you realize how many people you have saved?’ It’s a great way to look at it,” Tracy says. “Dogs bring unconditional love into a home.”
COVID-19 kept many housebound over the past year, which Tracy believes inspired even more families to open their homes to a new pet.
“We have had a lot of dogs adopted during this time period,” Tracy says. “It gives people something to look forward to. It’s a reason to get out — a purpose.”
But running Sasha’s Pals isn’t always easy. On top of her full-time job as a commercial real estate broker, Tracy constantly finds herself in the car, either to pick up a new dog or take an ill animal to the vet.
“I love what I do, and my job is flexible,” Tracy says. “And my family is great. It’s a big undertaking for everyone. It’s always a three-ring circus. There have been times where I just close my eyes and tell [my husband] Kris, ‘It’s going to be crazy for a week or two.’”
Thankfully, Tracy has a solid support system in her family.
“She recognizes that it’s her thing, but we will always help because she takes a lot of pride in it,” Macy says. “There have been those hard moments, then it’s our job to support her.”
Despite the long hours, Tracy still hopes her efforts inspire others to open their homes to animals in need.
“I always encourage people to try fostering. People’s first instinct is that you won’t be able to give them up. But if you don’t do it, then who will?” Tracy asks. “A foster can be the matter of a dog living or not.”
Tracy has foster failed twice, meaning two dogs have found their forever homes with the Millers.
“Some just fit in your pack,” Tracy says.
Even though three out of four Miller children have flown the coop (the youngest is currently a senior at Carroll Senior High School), Tracy is able to keep her home full and lively. She does try to keep to a five foster dog limit, but Tracy does often take in more if there are animals that need her help.
“It’s hard to have a bad day here,” Tracy says.
But when these dogs are experiencing hardship, Tracy steps in. After finding one special dog, Liberty Belle, a home with the Kirwan family, the dog’s leash came loose on a walk and she ran off. The family called Tracy hoping she could help them lure her back home.
“We were heartbroken and worried for her safety,” owner Jody says.
Tracy spent every night walking the streets of that neighborhood looking for Liberty Belle. She even brought in special reinforcements.
“We ended up hiring a pet detective,” Tracy says. “After five days, we were able to get her back to her owners. After you go the extra mile for any of them, you want to see it through.”
Jody knows Tracy’s connections helped them find Liberty Belle and bring her back home.
“She used her connections with other rescue agencies and had a cage and cameras set up to trap her,” Jody says. “I cannot say enough about Tracy. She is the most caring, hardworking person I have ever known. She loves every one of her fosters. We all can learn from her love of life.”
Tracy has even more success stories. One family adopted a pup during their darkest hour to bring comfort to their son when he was diagnosed with cancer. Another watched their child open up and start to talk when they brought a dog into their home. That dog now attends speech therapy with the boy, providing both support and a listening ear.
Thankfully when the Millers do find these animals homes, they don’t have to say goodbye forever. Tracy and Macy set up a separate Facebook page for Sasha’s Pals' adopters, which is constantly filled with new stories of the animals being spoiled with love in their forever homes.
“You can just scroll through that Facebook page and see how much these people worship those dogs,” Macy says.
Tracy also keeps in contact with many of her families to answer any questions and ensure their new fur babies remain happy and healthy, which has fostered meaningful friendships for the entire Miller family. After all, Tracy knows she could never do this alone.
“I couldn’t have kept 325 dogs, but I can help those 325 dogs find great homes and be a blessing,” Tracy says.